Join us for the uptown Central Fillmore ARTWALK! One night only, Friday October 28, 4pm to 7pm. Ceramics, sculptor, paintings, pencil art, charcoal, mini-sweet gourmets. Come and enjoy the artist talents hosted by the following businesses: Everyday Fashions, Vintage Pleasures, Edison Up in Arms, Scented Path, Element Computers, Mimstar, Cherry, treasure Station, Attractions Spa, and Bella’s Teas & Treats, all on Central Avenue.

Rigo Landeros, Fillmore Fire Chief

Kids love Halloween! They get to dress up and get free candy! What a perfect holiday! Give your kids some precious Halloween memories that they'll have for life.

Some of you kids already know things that you can do to be safe, like how to cross the street, not to talk to or go with strangers, and things like that. But we adults know how exciting Halloween can be and that can make you forget to be careful.

Here are some tips that we have just for you kids, to help keep you safe on Halloween night! Some of these ideas are called "common sense" ideas; that means that they are things that you should know and use every day in life. You are never too young to learn!

Never, ever go into a strangers’ house or even ring their door for treats unless your parents are with you and say that it's okay. There are some people in life that aren't very nice to kids and you have to be careful. Always make sure that your mom or dad is within sight when you go out trick-or-treating.

Be careful when you cross a street. Make sure to look in both directions and make sure that there are no cars coming. If you have a little brother or sister with you, take their hand and help them get across the street, too. If the street has a stop light, wait until the crosswalk light tells you that it's okay to cross, but still check before you cross, looking both ways.

If you are an older kid or young teen, and going out with friends, make sure that your parents know where you are going and who you are going with. This may seem like a pain but they are your parents and they love you. They just want you to be safe.

If you parents give you a curfew, be home when they say. It builds trust between you and them and they are doing it for your own safety. If you are going to be late, call them and let them know.

Have fun on Halloween but keep it safe, have some good, clean fun and your parents will trust you for many Halloweens to come! Showing them how responsible you can be will give you a feeling of pride and make them see just how adult you really are.

If you love strawberries and have an artistic flare, you might enjoy the sweetness of $2,000 awarded to the top pick. The CALIFORNIA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL seeks submissions for the 2012 Official Poster Contest with $2,000 awarded to the winner. The entry deadline is Monday, January 9, 2012 in what has become an outstanding Festival tradition to showcase each season since the popular event began in 1984. View the collection at: http://strawberry-fest.org/about/poster-archive

The poster will be utilized in marketing and printed on collectible T-shirts and promotional items when the 29th Annual CALIFORNIA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL gets underway in Oxnard May 19. 20, 2012, traditionally the third weekend in May.

Aspiring Rembrandts need not worry, there are no age requirements or restrictions on artistic mediums to inhibit creativity. Judges will select the winner based on which masterpiece best captures the look and feel of the weekend celebration.

All original art work for consideration must be 16.5” wide and 17” high, centered and mounted on a black matte board 18.5” wide and 19” high. The finished product must be reproduction compatible and void of any writing, including the date (the year and event logo will be inserted during re-production). Contact name and information should be easily viewed on the back. Prior to the deadline and without exception, entries can be mailed or hand delivered to the Festival office 1661 Pacific Avenue #15, Oxnard, CA 93033. (805-385-4739). The winner will be notified Friday, January 13th. Posters will not be returned and must be picked up from the Festival office any time beginning the fourth week of January. The winning original design and all rights of the winning design will become the property of the CALIFORNIA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL.

Saluting the region’s stellar strawberry industry, the CALIFORNIA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL has received numerous awards for contributing to the community through fundraising efforts that exceed $3.5 million dollars while introducing “green” initiatives and bolstering tourism.

As a non-profit organization, the event is the perfect summer kickoff with proceeds benefiting the community. An all-volunteer board works year-round to produce the weekend celebration where delicious strawberry eats are the main attraction with live entertainment, hundred of arts & crafts, contests, Strawberryland for Kids with free rides and attractions, and more.

More information can be found at www.strawberry-fest.org . Join the Berry Insiders Club for the latest information and benefits at: http://strawberry-fest.org/about/berry-insiders-club. The toll free number is 1-888-288-9242.

The Workforce Investment Board of Ventura County (WIB) knows that not all employment news is gloomy. A bright spot is the work being done by the WIB-supported employment professionals at Ventura County Job & Career Centers (JCCs) including the center in Santa Paula. Two recent success stories highlight the efforts of the JCC staff to match job seekers with local employers--all at no cost to either party.

West Oxnard Job & Career Center staff helped to find employees for Granada Corporation, which outsources customer support for companies serving the Hispanic market. Granada's human resources manager, Luly Flores, was looking for bilingual individuals who could serve as customer service representatives for an insurance company. Granada had identified several cities in the U.S. where it felt there was a strong employee pool. Oxnard was one of them.

Flores contacted Fred Garcia, a JCC account executive, to assist with recruiting. Flores, who works in Granada's Mexico office, traveled to the West Oxnard Career Center where she made an employment presentation to 15 potential candidates on August 4. "She met each candidate face to face, collected resumes and had them take an online test to determine voice and telephone skills," says Garcia. "Two of the applicants were hired." The new employees are currently in training and are studying to receive their state insurance license.

Granada Corporation, a Santa Barbara-based company, seeks to hire up to 50 additional employees by the end of the year for customer service, sales and collection positions. Flores says that she will be recruiting again in Oxnard, using JCC services, within the next several months.

The second success story involves All New Technologies, Inc. (ANT Furnace), an Oxnard company that provides equipment for materials thermal processing. Owner Eric Gisonno contacted the JCCs after his wife heard a local radio spot highlighting free JCC employer services. In the past year, he has hired four employees through the centers, taking advantage of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) on-the-job training program that underwrites training costs. "ANT does a lot of government projects, and employees have to be familiar with compliance issues," says Gisonno. "The training brings employees up to speed on how we do business. The Job & Career Centers were very helpful and eager to come up with solutions that work for our company."

"We introduced ANT to our services including recruitment, candidate screening and training opportunities," says Raul Ornelas, a JCC account executive. "Whenever ANT has a job opening, we find the resources to meet its staffing needs."

One of ANT's recent hires was Richard Beckley, a mechanical designer who had been laid off from his previous position in 2008. He enrolled in the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) dislocated worker program in September 2010. Beckley completed a WIA-funded on-the-job training program at ANT in March 2011, and ANT immediately hired him as a fulltime employee.

"Rick had good experience but it wasn’t specific to what we do here," says Gisonno. "We developed a plan where he could update his skills to the type of software we wanted him to use. The process was very successful."
“The WIB is extremely proud of the professional work being done by account executives like Fred and Raul,” said Alex Rivera, WIB chair. “It’s important that we continue to make Ventura County employers aware of the quality services available to them through the JCCs at no cost.”

To learn more about free employer services for Ventura County businesses through the Job & Career Centers, call 800-500-7705, email HSA-Employer-Services@ventura.org, or visit www.venturacountyjcc.org

Ventura, CA - Prostate cancer – the most common form of malignancy in men – will be the focus of a free seminar Community Memorial Health System is holding on Thursday, Nov. 17.

Ventura urologists Drs. Marc Beaghler, Seyed Khoddami and William Klope will lead the seminar that will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. in Community Memorial Hospital’s eighth-floor Nichols Auditorium. In addition, Prostate Specific Antigen testing will be available to seminar participants beginning at 5 p.m.

Approximately one in nine men will develop prostate cancer in their lives, and Drs. Beaghler, Khoddami and Klope say early detection and intervention can help reduce the number of 30,000 prostate cancer-related deaths each year in the U.S. They add that underestimating the disease is the most common cause of selecting the wrong treatment, and that PSA testing is one of the most reliable indicators for potential prostate health problems for men over 40.

Participants will receive information on what the test results mean and how the results are used to provide care for them. Results will be mailed to participants after the seminar.

The seminar’s physicians all are trained in minimally-invasive surgery and laparoscopic surgery, and are members of both the Community Memorial Hospital and the Ojai Valley Community Hospital medical staffs.

Dr. Beaghler received his Medical Degree from the Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, NE. He is currently a clinical professor of Urology at USC Keck School of Medicine, and a member of the American Urology Association.

Dr. Khoddami received his Medical Degree from the University of Tehran School of Medicine, Tehran, Iran. He is a clinical Assistant Professor of Urology at USC and a member of American Urology Association.

Dr. Klope received his Medical Degree from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN. He is a Diplomate, American Board of Urology.

Admission is free, but space is limited, so reservations are required. Call (805) 652-6307, or visit www.cmhshealth.org/rsvp.

Community Memorial Hospital is located at 147 N. Brent St. in Ventura.

Community Memorial Health System is a not-for-profit health system, which is comprised of Community Memorial Hospital, Ojai Valley Community Hospital, and ten family-practice health centers entitled Centers for Family Health. The health system is located in Ventura County, California.

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For the sixth year, KSSP Photographic Studios will be offering a FREE Halloween photography for children, in costume, 12 years & younger, on Halloween, Monday October 31th. A free 4”x6” print will be printed (limit 1 free print per family or group) and available for pick-up on Halloween. As part of this tradition, each child's picture will be entered in the Child's Creative Costume Contest.

As in past years, no appointment is necessary and no purchase is necessary. The studio will be open from 3pm to 8pm to photograph individuals or groups, in costume. Children 12 and under will be photographed for free. For those over 12 years old, there will be a small charge.

As part of the Child's Creative Costume Contest, each child's costume will be judged by an independent committee. The child with the best costume will win a free family portrait session and an 11”x14” family portrait.

“This is our way to give back to the community and to say 'thank you' for supporting us,” photographer Carmelita Miranda told the Gazette.

Principal photographers at KSSP are Carmelita Miranda and Charles Morris. KSSP is a full service photography studio specializing in portrait, wedding and quinceanera photography (and video). KSSP Photographic Studios is the school photographer for Fillmore High School. For further information, please contact KSSP Photographic Studios at 524-6400 or visit http://ksspphotostudios.com.

Sacramento, CA — The Franchise Tax Board (FTB) today reminded taxpayers that Monday, October 31, is the deadline to participate in its Voluntary Compliance Initiative 2 (VCI 2) for taxpayers who may have underreported their tax liabilities through the use of abusive tax avoidance transactions or offshore financial arrangements.

The amnesty program, directed by recent legislation (SB 86, Ch. 14) is an opportunity for taxpayers to voluntarily amend their 2010 and prior year income tax returns. Participating taxpayers must pay both the tax and interest in full. In return, taxpayers receive a waiver of most penalties and avoid potential criminal prosecution.

Advancements in technology, reporting requirements, and the data sharing between agencies (including the IRS) has allowed FTB to better identify taxpayers who may have underreported their income due to these schemes. FTB encourages taxpayers who qualify for this initiative to participate rather than risk a full range of penalties, interest, and potential criminal prosecution.

Taxpayers wanting to participate must have amended returns and participation agreements postmarked or faxed by October 31, 2011. There are no extensions.

For more information, visit FTB’s VCI 2 webpage or call 888.825.9868.

For more information on other taxes and fees in California, visit:taxes.ca.gov.

Ventura, CA - Ventura County Public Health and Food Share of Ventura County are hosting a healthy food distribution event and community garden grand opening to celebrate the first annual national Food Day on Monday October 24, 2011. The event will be held in Oxnard at the Camino Del Sol community garden, at the corner of Camino Del Sol and Garfield, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Activities will include free produce distribution and healthy food cooking demonstrations.

Resource tables on obesity prevention programs, health coverage options, and Cal Fresh and WIC programs will also be available. Supervisor John Zaragoza and a representative from Congresswoman Lois Capps’s office will be at the event to welcome families and help distribute the produce that Food Share is donating.

Food Day is a national campaign to celebrate healthy, affordable foods produced in a way that is aimed at promoting healthy, sustainable, affordable, and fair food systems in America. Spearheaded by the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest, Food Day is organized around six main policy goals:
1. Reduce diet-related disease by promoting safe, healthy foods.
2. Support sustainable farms and limit subsidies to big agribusiness.
3. Expand access to food and alleviate hunger.
4. Protect the environment and animals by reforming factory farms.
5. Promote health by curbing junk-food marketing to kids.
6. Support fair working conditions for food-service and farm workers.

“When 63 percent of Americans are obese or overweight, 25.8 million of them children and diet-related diseases like diabetes and heart disease are skyrocketing, it’s hard to ignore the problem,” says Dr. Robert Levin, Public Health Officer.

Diet-related health is the most visible, and talked about problem, but there is a lot more to food than
meets the eye. Food Day draws attention to: food deserts (areas where fresh, healthy, affordable foods are scarce), the wages of workers in the food system, the consequences of concentrated animal feeding operations, the importance of sustainable agriculture, and the type of food-messages targeted at our children.

(l-r) Ed McClements, Barkely Insurance and President Sean Morris.

The Rotary Club of Fillmore Sun Risers handed out Student Dictionaries to all third graders in FUSD and at the Fillmore Christian Academy. Rotarians visited the 3rd grade classrooms at Sespe School, San Cayentano School, Mountain Vista School, Piru School and Fillmore Christian Academy. Each student received a Student Dictionary that is theirs to keep, use at school and take home. The books are not only dictionaries but also have sections on the US Presidents, the US Constitution, the Solar System, and Sign Language and a lot more. The last page of the dictionary has the longest word in the English language. Sun Risers have been doing this project for seven years and have provided more than 2,700 dictionaries to FUSD students. This project is funded by the Rotary Club of Fillmore Sun Risers and a Rotary District 5240 Simplified Grant. The dictionaries are purchased from The Dictionary Project, a non-profit foundation in Charleston, SC.

On Tuesday, October 18th the Rotarians heard a presentation by Ed McClements of Barkley Insurance on the Hearth Care Reform bill. Mr. McClements explained 10 keys to understanding employer Play or Pay rules in Health Care Reform.

The next event for the Rotarians is helping with the Fillmore High School Career Day. The Club provides a continental breakfast for all the Career Day presenters. Career Day is on Friday, November 4th at the Memorial Building. Rotary club members are volunteers who work locally, regionally, and internationally to combat hunger, improve health and sanitation, provide education and job training, promote peace, and eradicate polio under the motto Service Above Self.

The Rotary Club of Fillmore Sun Risers meets weekly at El Pescador Restaurant at 7:00 AM. For more information about attending a meeting and about the Rotary Club of Fillmore Sun Risers, call Sean at 796-0276.

Soroptimist is pleased to announce the Woman of Influence Art Contest. This year’s contest invites boy and girl students, ages 4-18, to draw a real woman, not fictional, that has touched their hearts. The mission of the campaign is to recognize and praise women in our lives.

Winners will be announced Wednesday, November 16th, at the Soroptimist International of Fillmore Program Meeting. Winners will receive a gift card or cash prize.

Artwork will be judged in the following categories: Category 1: Ages 4-6; Category 2: Ages 7-9; Category 3: Ages 10-12; Category 4: Ages 13-15; Category 5: Ages 16-18.

Rules
Students must draw a real woman for the Soroptimist Woman of Influence Art Contest that has touched their hearts. Art can be created in any medium (pencil, paint, crayon, etc.). All artwork must be original. Work should be no larger than 11” by 14”. Students must glue or staple the art contest entry form to the bottom of their artwork. All sections must be complete. Artwork that does not have an attached entry form will be disqualified.

Submission Guidelines
Schools, teachers or parents must collect all artwork from students by Wednesday, November 9th. A member from Soroptimist will pick up the artwork from the classes or office that afternoon. Parents and residents of Fillmore may also drop off their artwork by November 9th to Jane David at 524 Sespe Avenue (Fillmore Police Department) by 4:30 P.M.

Deadline
Entries must be received by Wednesday, November 9th. Entries received after this date will be disqualified.

Judging
Members of Soroptimist International of Fillmore and the community will judge the entries. Soroptimist will announce the winners on Wednesday, November 16th.
Submissions become the property of Soroptimist and will not be returned. Soroptimist reserves the right to use submissions as promotional material.

Questions? Contact: Jane David at Jane.David@ventura.org, or Mrs. Herrera at magnoliares@aol.com. (805) 727-1145 or (805) 794-1900

Please call or email for a Soroptimist 2011 Woman of Influence Art Contest Entry Form and instructions.
Information about artwork.

The mission of the Woman of Influence Art Contest is to recognize and praise a woman that has touched your heart. Using the box below, please describe in 50 words or less how this woman has influenced your life. You may type or write your paragraph on a separate piece of paper and attach it to the box.

Winner Disbursements:
All winners receive gift cards from Yanni’s: Category 1: Ages 4 –6 $5. gift cards for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place; Category 2: Ages 7 – 9 $5. gift cards for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place; Category 3: Ages 10 – 12 $15. gift card 1st, $10. gift card 2nd, $5. gift card 3rd; Category 4: Ages 13 – 15 $15. gift card 1st, $10. gift card 2nd, $5. gift card 3rd; Category 5: Ages 16 – 18 $15. gift card 1st, $10. gift card 2nd, $5. gift card 3rd.

Popular magician Shawn McMaster will return to the Fillmore Library to give a special Halloween program of spooks and hair raising fun. The show starts at 3:30 PM on Wednesday, October 26, 2011. Program sponsored by the Fillmore Friends of the Library. For further information: phone 524-3355.

Oakland, CA - As part of its ongoing efforts to encourage Americans to prepare for all hazards, The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is encouraging all Californians to participate in the "Great California ShakeOut" on Thursday, October 20, 2011. The ShakeOut is the state's annual public earthquake drill, organized by the Earthquake Country Alliance. During the drill, which will be conducted at 10:20 am pacific standard time, anyone can practice how to protect themselves during and after a major earthquake - whether at work, at home or at school. To date, over 8.4 million Californians have signed up.

"Californians have a strong tradition of practicing earthquake safety and have set a great example for the rest of us about how to prepare for disasters. The ShakeOut drill is a great way to get your ready for emergencies and connect with those who are also at risk for an earthquake," said FEMA Regional Administrator Nancy Ward. "As recent earthquakes in Haiti, New Zealand, Japan, and the east coast of the U.S. remind us, earthquakes can strike anytime, anywhere - and often happen without warning. While we don't know where the next earthquake will strike, preparing for them helps people become more resilient in the face of a real disaster."

California's ShakeOut event continues to grow as the largest earthquake drill in U.S. history. Participating in the ShakeOut drill is simple and free - and everyone can participate, including businesses, government offices, organizations, neighborhoods, schools, and individuals. To join, visit www.shakeout.org/register and pledge your school, business, or organization's participation in the drill. Registered participants will receive information on how to plan their drill and how to talk with others about earthquake preparedness.

While FEMA encourages California residents to register for Thursday's ShakeOut event, we also encourage people across the country to prepare for earthquakes. Practicing for earthquakes should occur in all areas of the country and can be practiced at any time, even if there isn't an organized earthquake drill in your community. People can also visit www.ready.gov for important earthquake preparedness tips so that you can protect yourself and your loved ones in the event of an earthquake.

FEMA's mission is the support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Marie Callender Pies are being sold now by the Senior Class of 2012. Look for the seniors to place your orders. If you are planning on being out of town for the holiday and don't want to buy a pie for yourself, make a check out to Grad Nite Live as a DONATION. We will use the money to buy pies/pies for the Senior Center Lunch and the Meals on Wheels for their Thanksgiving . The student will get the order in their name toward The Graduation Harbor Cruise. PIES ARE $11.OO EACH, APPLE, PUMPKIN, PECAN, RAZELBERRY AND LIGHT APPLE. Any questions call Mrs Chaney at 524-4909 or 407-5759

Come learn about our wonderful museum, Saturday, October 22, 9:00 to noon and find your "camulos niche". Tours, school tours, historical research, gardening, fundraising, maintenance and restoration...and volunteer.

Opportunities such as our Ramona Days event, November 5, abound at the rancho!!

Please reserve your spot by October 21. Contact Kathy at 661-294-0230. or e-mail, at kathimarsden@yahoo.com if interested or for any

Visit www.ranchocamulos.org to find our more about Rancho Camulos...where the history, myth, and romance of old California still linger...

On Tuesday October 25, the Fillmore Ebell club will be hosting Edgar Allan Poe. Mr Poe will be enacted by Duffy Hudson, a noted actor, writer and filmmaker. The Ebell Club would enjoy the company of Fillmore residents to join in this historic occasion. Lunch will be catered by Double A restaurants begining promptly at 12:30 pm - cost $12.00. Or if you want to attend only the entertainment, which begins at approximately 1:45 pm, cost is $5.00. Call Lavonne Deeter at 524-2090 for reservations.

If you are interested in joining or learning more about the Fillmore Ebell Club please call Melodie at 521-1400